Water Design-Build Council Blog

Key Attributes of a Public-Private Partnership

Embracing collaboration, a key initiative promoted by the Water Design-Build Council, is much more than just a concept. Through the WDBC’s 12 years of existence, we have experienced a dramatic shift in delivery models. Whereas design-build and CMAR were considered “alternatives” just a few years ago, they are now the “go to” delivery tools for owners across the country. The reason? The benefits of true collaboration are showing how success can be achieved.

Collaboration is now a foundational structure for water and wastewater projects that demand more than just a low bid for success. Moreover, collaboration creates the platform in which true partnerships that are essential to a project’s success are formed. If we as industry leaders are to successfully rebuild America’s aging infrastructure, the embodiment of collaboration is essential.

This point is truly emphasized in Black & Veatch’s 2017 Strategic Directions: Water Industry Report, where the importance of partnerships is emphasized by Bruce Allender and Francesca McCann regarding the implementation of a P3 project. Allender and McCann describe how collaborative partnerships bridge the gap for P3s by only funding the delivery models that create tremendous benefits for owners. Examples of those benefits include economic development, rate predictability and stability, robust asset management, and optimized risk allocation. Download the report to learn the amazing attributes that are derived from true business partnerships and collaboration for not only a specific project, but for an entire community.

Francesca McCann, based at Black & Veatch’s Washington, D.C. office, is a leader in the U.S. water industry with expertise in investments, public-private partnerships, and project development. with Black & Veatch.

Bruce Allender is Chief Operating Officer of infraManagement Group LLC (iMG), a wholly owned subsidiary of Black & Veatch, based in Kansas City, MO. With over 25 years of experience, he has been part of teams that have proposed and implemented public-private partnership schemes in North America, Australia, and Asia Pacific for the water and wastewater municipal and industrial marketplace.